Gujarat Lokayukta case

Last week, the hearing in the Gujarat high court on the state government’s petition challenging the appointment of Justice (retd) R A Mehta as Lokayukta by the governor had concluded and the judgement was expected today.
Justice Akil Qureshi, giving his verdict on Monday, upheld the appointment of the ombudsman by the governor and said that in view of the deadlock between the chief minister and the governor over the appointment of Justice (retd.) R. A. Mehta, the opinion of Gujarat High Court Chief Justice S. J. Mukhopadhyay had rendered legitimacy to Mehta’s appointment.
But the other judge on the bench, Justice Sonia Gokani, said she did not completely agree with her fellow judge. She also maintained that the state government had at least twice tried to find a suitable person for the post, but both the proposals were refused by the governor.

Though the governor was bound to act on advice of the state government, she was justified in appointing Justice Mehta as Lokayukta because the government had grossly violated the Lokayukta Act by not filling up the post for more than seven years, Patel argued.